A weekly look at what goes on behind the scenes at the General Assembly, who pops up from time to time and what Capitol M finds either amusing or interesting.

Blast from the past…lots of former lawmakers show up at the Capitol from time to time, from those who have gone over to the other side (lobbyists) to those who just seem to enjoy hanging out (Dr. Chaps, looking at you). But if you want to find former state Rep. and Sen. Ken Chlouber, who represented Leadville and surrounding parts for 10 years in the House and eight in the Senate, you have to go up to Leadville. That’s where Capitol M found him over the weekend, holding court in Leadville’s newest hot spot, the Treeline Kitchen on Harrison Avenue. Capitol M swears the man hasn’t aged a day since he ended his time as a lawmaker back in 2004.

Chlouber was one of the General Assembly’s most notable characters in the past couple of decades, a former miner and the founder of the Leadville 100, the nation’s premiere ultramarathon foot/trail race. Click here for some memorable Chlouber-isms, including Capitol M’s personal favorite: “This isn’t a motivational speech, because motivational speeches only keep you going until you throw up.”

At 79, Chlouber hasn’t lost his zip, in fact, you can find it, and him, these days preparing to do some serious mountain climbing.

Chlouber has been running around Nepal, climbing some of the lower peaks in the Himalayas, as well as high mountain peaks in Argentina. But in October, he’s planning to tackle Cho Oyu, the sixth highest mountain peak in the world, at more than 26,000 feet. Should he reach the summit, he will be the oldest person in the world to claim it. He says that he hopes this next climb will inspire older people to become more physically active. Good luck, Ken. If anyone can do it, you can.

The House loooooves Girl Scout Cookies…If you think selling Girl Scout cookies outside of adult businesses (i.e. pot dispensaries) is a sure-fire way of getting sales, as the saying goes, hold my beer.

Rep. James Coleman’s (D-Denver) daughter has found herself some pretty willing customers. Her troop took advantage of a non-captive but appreciative audience when they recently brought in a BIG cart of Girl Scout cookies to the Colorado House. Before the House had adjourned for the day, the Thin Mints were (Oh Noes!) gone and the supply of everything else was getting pretty bleak. That’s some smart salemanship (or sales-woman-ship).

Thanks for taking pity on Mr. Capitol M’s Thin Mints jones.

This week’s Capital M…is beloved Chief Clerk of the House Marilyn Eddins, who has spent the last three years overseeing renovations around the Capitol. She has accumulated, or rescued, some real historic finds that have helped guide the most recent batch of renovations of the House hearing rooms in the basement. You’ll hear more about those renovations, and those spectacular finds, in a future edition of Colorado Politics’ weekly magazine.

And don’t miss…Molly Otto’s last day in the legislative library, which is Wednesday, Feb. 28. She heads off after 13 years to a well-deserved retirement.